This week we'll hear from the owner of TCW - Mr. $5.5, "The Loverboy" Matt Riviera. TCW is going international,
and Riviera is announcing a TCW International Heavyweight Championship Tournament. Mister 5.5 also has some choice words
for newly-crowned TCW Heavyweight Champion Tim Storm - who will have to defend his title this week in our television Main Event.

First up in the hunt for the newly created International Heavyweight title, it's the Empire's own "Golden Boy" Greg Anthony taking on Lars.
In recent weeks, Lars has been having trouble where his girlfriend Lily is concerned - we'll see if he can keep his eye on the prize as he begins his quest for championship gold.

The Good Ole Boys return to tag team action this week, taking on Jon Omari & Big Mike.

New Orleans, LA – The biggest name to ever be associated with Mid-South Wrestling, former owner and wrestling legend “Cowboy” Bill Watts has been added to the Friday, April 4, Mid-South Legends Fanfest event. The event is slated to take place at the Sigur Center, Chalmette, LA, located approximately six miles from New Orleans.

Bill Watts, an Oklahoma native and former Sooner Football player started his career as a wrestler in the 1960’s and wrestled around the world under the NWA banner and was always known for his toughness and tenacity in the ring. As his career progressed in the late 1970’s, “The Cowboy” bought the NWA Tri State promotion, which presented shows in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana and renamed it Mid South Wrestling. Watts built up Mid-South Wrestling to one of the most successful regional wrestling promotions in the 1980’s and later renamed it UWF in attempt to go national before eventually selling it to Jim Crockett promotions. During his days with Mid-South, his shows exhibited athleticism and energy that rivaled no others. Mid South created some of most well-known stars of wrestling including the late Junk Yard Dog, the Rock N’ Roll Express, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and the Midnight Express with Jim Cornette.

In addition to being available for autographs and photos, Watts will be participating in a question and answer session where you can hear all of the behind the scene stories and scoops in one of the most electrifying periods of pro wrestling.

The Fanfest will wrap up with the “Battle Lines” wrestling event. “Battle Lines” will feature the inaugural JYD Memorial Cup Battle Royal featuring wrestlers from at least eight different wrestling organizations. Plus the TCW faction known as “The Empire” (Matt Riviera, Tim Storm and Greg Anthony) with Dark Journey as their manager will face the team of Tommy Dreamer, Americos and Scott Phoenix in a 6-Man Tag Team Match. Superstar Bill Dundee takes on “King” Shane Williams, “The Pope” Elijah Burke will face Steve Anthony in a Special Challenge Match and Chris Adonis (formerly known as Masterpiece Chris Masters) will take on Lance Hoyt in a Grudge Match. And in a woman’s match, two of the best woman wrestlers in the world, Mickie James and Angelina Love will mix it up in the ring.

Also scheduled to wrestle at “Battle Lines” is the in-ring return of The Rock N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson).

The day of festivities honoring the stars of Mid-South Wrestling kicks off with an early entry for Platinum VIP pass holders at 9:00am followed by photos sessions, autographs and Q and A sessions throughout the day. At 5:00pm there will be a Cajun Style dinner for the stars and their fans. The evening will conclude with the “Battle Lines” wrestling event. Doors open at 6:30pm and bell time is 7:30pm.

Tickets are available now at midsouthlegends.com for the Fanfest at the historic home of Mid South Wrestling, The Sigur Center. All Inclusive tickets for the Fanfest and the “Battle Lines” wrestling event are $149 for the Platinum VIP Access and $99 for the Gold VIP Access. Entry to the Fanfest event only is $19.

Tickets for the April 4 at 7:30pm “Battle Lines” live wrestling event are available now at midsouthlegends.com and at the Sigur Center, Chalmette, LA Box Office during office hours. Ticket prices for “Battle Lines” are $30 for ringside floor seats and $15 for General Admission Balcony Seats.

Space for vendors at both the Fanfest and the "Battle Lines" wrestling event are also available. All inquiries for vendors should be directed to info@midsouthlegends.com.

TCW Television returns to Arkansas as it rejoins one of the original stations in the TCW Network, KARZ-42 in Little Rock. Fans in Arkansas will be able to catch TCW Wrestling every Saturday night at 9:00 PM on Z-42.

Here is a full listing of cable systems which carry KARZ in Arkansas. We're glad to be back on the air in the Natural State!

TCW WRESTLING NOW ON PURSUIT CHANNEL

TCW Wrestling is now on the Pursuit Channel every Friday at midnight CT. The Pursuit Channel is available in over 37 million U.S. television households via Dish Network channel 240/393 and DIRECTV channel 604.

SIMON SAYS

by Tom Simon December 24, 2013

I write this column from the road, and this gives me some time to reflect not knowing what comes next for me or TCW.

One thing I do know that is next is Christmas. In fact as I write this, Christmas is tomorrow. And Christmas is a time to let others know what you are thankful for this past year.

The final three shows recorded in Fort Smith are wrapping up and will play out over the next three weeks. Many changes take place and there is some exciting wrestling action ahead for those
loyal fans who have watched TCW from the beginning.

The TCW Hotline has closed down as I would not have been in the office to maintain it and there is not much new to tell everyone. But enough of the downer news. Let's give some thanks to folks who
mean the most to me. Fans and friends...I know if I start naming names that I will forget someone, and that would not be fair. I am equally grateful to all who have chosen to support TCW in the past year and make it the
fastest growing wrestling promotion in the country. Whether you were in Springfield, MO, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Clarksville, Booneville, Bryant, Hot Springs, Meridian and Vicksburg in Mississippi, your support of our wrestling shows
made the long days on the road sandwiched in-between other tasks worth while. Every time I came through the curtain, I knew that I was lucky enough to be a part of something that much was invested in.

You made me welcome and I hope that I never disappointed you in trying to entertain you between matches. My one dream was to some day sing the national anthem before a show. Maybe some day...

To the workers who gave blood, sweat, and tears to each of their matches, I knew that in TCW nobody "walked through it". People from all over the country were amazed how the level of competition never dropped one bit. To
our Champions this year, you understand how important it was to carry the mantle and symbolic belt. If you had a championship, you were expected to step it up. And the folks at the top believed enough in you to
hand those belts to you. And you never disappointed me. I was ringside for every single match this year in TCW. Even though I worked at the announce table, I was able to enjoy the matches as a fan would. So when I
got feedback from the fans, I understood. To my brothers in the back, I love each and every one of you and I hope we get the chance to work together again in 2014.

To say it's been a good year is an understatement. I will be eternally grateful to those who joined us on TCW Radio this year. And people who still message me on Facebook and Twitter know my passion for this company and
this sport. We shall meet again somewhere down the road. But for now, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from myself and the TCW Family. Be safe and hopefully we'll see you in 2014.